Prison Breakout

July 16, 1985

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR — A rebel attack that freed 149 convicts from El Salvador's largest prison was ''a bruising blow'' to the government, leftist Radio Venceremos said. In a broadcast Sunday, the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front claimed 100 of its members carried out the assault, which took place when most prisoners were outside their cells. They fled through a hole blasted in one wall and still are on the loose, authorities said. Sidelight: Roman Catholic Archbishop Arturo Rivera y Damas condemned the prison attack in his weekly homily. He also denounced right-wing death threats against ''communist'' students at the University of El Salvador.